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For months, I have been sharing the ongoing challenges we face -
both in Washington and around the globe. It's nice to report
some good news today: the Senate just released their proposal for next
year's funding level for the State Department and USAID -
and it's very strong.

In a bipartisan show of support for global leadership, Senate leaders
firmly rejected earlier calls for deep and disproportionate cuts to
our nation's development and diplomacy programs. While the
process is far from over, this is an important step forward in
responding to the array of global threats.

In another stand-out move, George Clooney joined America's top
humanitarian NGOs and businesses to raise alarm bells about one of the
most serious global challenges - the growing threat of famine in
Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, and Nigeria. Read the latest in this
edition of the GLOBAL GAB.

Best,
Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC

THE GLOBAL GAB: Clooney speaks, Mattis on cell phone, Senate steps up
July 21, 2017

BUDGETS MATTER. Here's the one thing worth knowing: The Senate
just proposed funding for the State Department and USAID that is only
1.7% below current levels (not counting extra plus-ups to counter ISIS
and famine in Fiscal Year 2017). This is positive news given the
starting point of this season was an Administration proposal for a
dangerous 32% cut to America's civilian forces. The Senate and
House still have to negotiate their final funding level - and
the House proposal last week included a deeper cut, so we're
backing the Senate number. A huge shout-out to Senators Lindsey Graham
and Pat Leahy.

CLOONEY SPEAKS. Launching a new campaign to fight global famine,
George Clooney said: "Americans are the most generous people on
the planet. Helping others is ingrained in our spirit. It's who
we are. When there is pain in the world, Americans respond."
Watch the PSA. The new effort, the Global Emergency Response
Coalition, is calling on Americans to help combat the threat of famine
and brings together CARE, IRC, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, Plan International,
Save the Children, and World Vision.
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=Z7T1crn0pehWD6NcRIp6_g
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=EWexHrMxw2mA81Vrh0GrVA

#FIGHTFAMINE. More voices are rising in the fight to save millions of
lives: USGLC board member David Milliband of IRC writes in TIME,
"'America First' should not mean 'poorest
last'"; fellow board member Michael Gerson reports from
Kenya in the Washington Post; and David Beasley, the World Food
Program chief, told policymakers that it's in "America's
national interest and the world's national security interest for peace
and prosperity to help hungry people."
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=m0gue-OoKk1Q6GY-wk6iSg

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=gMMEGbrBdHDMPF5LlAXm0w

SCOOP OF THE YEAR. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told a high school
newspaper that "we can't just be isolationist like we were
after World War I" and defended foreign assistance in a lengthy
surprise interview when an intrepid high school student from
Washington state tried his private cell phone number that appeared in
a Washington Post photo (since deleted). After leaving a message, the
chatty retired general returned the call and the interview is
certainly worth a read.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=M_YjGF4pzK1seOiYEMJysw

AMBASSADOR COUNT. This past week, the Senate held 13 ambassador
confirmation hearings - welcome news given the severe shortfall
that remains at Foggy Bottom and around the world. Out of 187 U.S.
ambassador posts around the world, only 26 appointments have been made
by the Administration (just under 14%) - and only 7 have been
confirmed by the Senate. This week's confirmation hearings
included the nominee to NATO, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has
co-chaired the USGLC's Texas Advisory Committee - and
we're hoping to see the Senate quickly confirm Ambassador Mark
Green for USAID Administrator, who sailed through his June
confirmation hearing.

SULLIVAN DEBUT. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan - who is
heading up the Department's reorganization effort - made
his first appearance in Congress this week since being confirmed by
the Senate. Pushed by senators from both sides of the aisle, Sullivan
commented on the proposal to merge the State Department and USAID:
"This has been proposed by outside groups but I can commit to
you that there is not an intention by this Department to absorb
USAID." He added, "there is no predetermination" on
this issue as the government-wide reorganization process moves
forward.

AID ARCHICTECTS. A series of reports and proposals are in the works on
reforming America's diplomacy and development programs. One of
the first out from MFAN is the proposal to bring together USAID, the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, and PEPFAR under one roof in a new
U.S. global development agency. The big objective: realign the
architecture of U.S. aid programs to be more "effective,
coherent, and agile." Next week: Look for a new report on State
Department reform from CSIS, chaired by Senators Todd Young and Jeanne
Shaheen.

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=0Flq6oyxR1aJrJcq1FraOw

BUREAU BATTLE. More than a four dozen former diplomats and foreign
policy experts wrote a bipartisan letter to Secretary Tillerson this
week opposing a leaked Administration proposal to shift a key State
Department bureau to the Department of Homeland Security. The experts
argue that the elimination the "assistance functions" of
the Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration would have
"profound and negative implications" for influencing
"policy issues of key concern to the United States."

AMERICA FIRST? Retired General Stanley McChrystal just said that we
should consider how other countries might perceive the tagline
'America First.' He told Fortune, "The reality is
when you make 'America First' a bumper sticker and pump it
overseas, what you're telling them is 'America
Only.'"

CHINA RISING. A new Pew study of the general public in 38 countries
found: "A median of 42% say the U.S. is the world's
leading economy, while 32% name China." Those surveyed in Latin
America, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa "tend to believe the U.S.
remains the top economy." Most surprising: 7 of the 10 European
countries surveyed say China is the leading global economic power.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED? With the recent victory over ISIS declared in
Mosul last week, policymakers and foreign policy experts are raising
concerns about what's next. A recent piece by the U.S. Institute
of Peace's Nancy Lindborg said that investments in civilian
peace building programs following the military campaign are vital and
that "a post-ISIS strategy need not be costly or led by U.S.
forces" but rather the U.S. should follow "a consistent
policy of leading cost-effective" programs that help
"Iraqis build peace."

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=4zu6SK3xyNDPfdYHvzBNSQ

EBOLA FIREFIGHTERS. The Washington Post editorial board says much more
needs to be done to be ready for the next pandemic following the Ebola
outbreak in West Africa in 2014. In a recent editorial -
"A Worthy Legacy of the Ebola Catastrophe" - they
note how the world "needs a well-funded, rapid-reaction
mechanism, a firefighting team ready to deploy quickly in the face of
spreading disease."
http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=olgsYafKNT_aSEkQOYyRVA

TOP-EDS. The USGLC's National Security Chair Admiral James
Stavridis wrote on CNN.com that "Trump should not relinquish
soft power" and makes the connection between "global
health and global security." And the Center for New American
Security chief, Richard Fontaine, writes in the

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=AiK4uTY9-I055__acHawLw

Independent Journal Review that instead of trimming aid programs,
"we should look to new Marshall Plans, aimed at eradicating
deadly diseases, or reducing malnutrition, or improving democracy and
governance."

http://action.usglc.org/site/R?i=CfvR6-UqaOqThIixXOXbMQ

THE MAVERICK. It was the announcement that sent shockwaves throughout
the Capitol and the country this past week: Senator John
McCain's next fight. All our thoughts and prayers are with the
long-time champion of America's global leadership.


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